Marc Suhrcke discusses a report on the wider socio-economic impact of chronic diseases on developing countries based on a report funded by Oxford Health Alliance. This article has been brought to you courtesy of Id21.
The biggest portion of early death and disability worldwide is caused by chronic diseases. It is anticipated that this share will rise sharply over the next few decades, especially in developing countries. What are the economic implications of chronic disease, particularly for low- and middle-income countries?
More than half of all deaths worldwide are due to four chronic diseases: heart disease, diabetes, lung diseases and some cancers. It is estimated that as of 2002, chronic diseases caused 54 percent of all deaths in low- and middle-income countries, while about 36 percent could be attributed to infectious diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions and nutritional deficiencies. It is predicted that the share of chronic diseases will rise to 65 percent by 2030. The public health sector of the developing world may be particularly affected by this trend and yet it is likely to be less able to cope with the negative impact.
A study published by the Oxford Health Alliance focuses on the main chronic diseases of heart disease and stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes and the main risk factors causing them – obesity, poor diet, lack of physical activity and consumption of alcohol and tobacco – particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It looks at who is affected by chronic disease, the costs of chronic disease and the argument for government intervention and summarises cost-effective interventions. It also highlights key areas for research.
The study makes the following findings:
- Chronic diseases cause the largest share of deaths in all regions of the developing world, except in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Chronic diseases do not only affect the elderly and wealthy. Poor people and working-age populations carry a significant share of the burden and risk factors of chronic diseases.
- Chronic diseases have significant economic consequences for the individual, his or her family and the general economy, affecting consumption and performance in the labour market.
- Evidence shows that chronic diseases have had a significant negative impact on economic growth in high-income countries.
- The social costs of a person’s unhealthy behaviour, carried by family members or wider society, may, even from a liberal perspective, justify government intervening to curtail individual choice.
- Further economic rationales for government intervention include the protection of children, provision of information to the public, and the tendency for people to opt for instant gratification at the expense of long-term best interests in some cases.
- A number of cost-effective interventions exist for developing countries, such as anti-smoking programmes, tobacco taxes, healthy nutrition media campaigns and exercise programmes.
This research finds significant evidence suggesting that far more attention should be given to policy regarding chronic diseases. It recommends that:
- Policymakers should act now to stop the growing burden of disease as well as recognising health improvement as a way of promoting economic growth.
- There needs to be more research into the burden and cost of chronic diseases, and the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions, especially in developing countries.
Source(s):
‘Chronic disease: an economic perspective’, The Oxford Health Alliance: London, by Marc Suhrcke, Rachel A. Nugent, David Stuckler and Lorenzo Rocco, 2006 Full document.
This Research was funded by Oxford Health Alliance UK